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McGowan isn't worried about temporary shutdown

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DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Dustin McGowan did his best on Thursday afternoon to downplay his latest setback with an injured right shoulder.

McGowan experienced some soreness while throwing off flat ground on Tuesday and has since been shut down. McGowan's expected to resume throwing off flat ground in the relatively near future, but there is no timetable for his return to the mound.

It's another frustrating twist for the 30-year-old who hasn't enjoyed an injury-free season since 2007.

"I don't think it's a big deal," McGowan said of the temporary shutdown. "I came in a little sore from throwing, so that's the safe thing to do -- just let it get out of there and then continue to go on after that."

McGowan had been pain free since he began throwing in December, but that quickly changed after arriving at the Blue Jays' Minor League complex.

The Georgia native experienced the discomfort while going through a long-toss program. McGowan admitted that he likely pushed things a little too fast and shouldn't have been throwing at such a long distance this early on in his preseason routine.

That's the delicate balance McGowan faces in a career where he has already undergone multiple surgeries on his right shoulder. Despite the seemingly endless series of setbacks, he's attempting to keep a positive mind-set about the entire process, which is easier said than done at times.

"It aggravates me a lot," McGowan said. "I go home and think about it. Sometimes it's just best to let it go, but it's hard to do that once you've been through it so much.

"I'm never going to give up, no matter what. That's just not my demeanor. That's not who I am. It's something I'll fight through and hopefully give it a week or two and won't have to worry about it again."